The RISE Report
Weekly Newsletter, April 9, 2023
What a fun week! Curious Creatures came to visit and our students had a great time interacting with, and touching, a chinchilla, ferret, turtle, tarantula, crocodile and snakes! We learned how a chinchilla takes a bath, turtles hide in bushes to camouflage, and snakes eat only once every 2 weeks! Ask your children about this amazing event to hear what they learned.
As we head into the last week before April vacation, we want to remind families about our Arts Fest celebration that begins on Monday! This is our annual district-wide celebration of the arts, April 10-12. Our talented preschoolers in Miss Ann Marie's class will be performing in the PAC on Monday, April 10th beginning promptly at 5:30 p.m. You won't want to miss this!
Enjoy the week ahead and have a fabulous April break!
~Dr. King
curious creatures all around!
PTN News Corner
Enrichment Programs:
May 31 and June 1, the Discovery Museums Traveling Workshops will provide a 45-minute workshop on Liquids & Solids to each classroom. Students will investigate the role temperature plays in causing materials to change from solid to liquid or liquid to solid. This is a very engaging science exploration for our youngest learners!
Prince Pizzeria Fundraiser:
Immediately after April break, we will be holding our final fundraiser for the year. This one is "as easy as pie" and provides families with an opportunity to purchase vouchers for the delicious Take 'n Bake Prince Pizza (3-pack of full size pizzas). Flyers will be sent home in backpacks before vacation!
PTN Meeting Dates for 2022-2023:
PTN members agreed to hold meetings virtually via Zoom on Monday evenings, 7:30-8:30 PM. Meeting dates for the remainder of the year will be on:
- May 22
- June 7 End-of-year celebration at Birch Meadow Field, 4:30-6:30 PM
Quick Updates:
The PTN has our own Venmo account set up for donations; @RISEPTN can be used for future transactions, collecting dues and fundraising. There is a small associated fee of 1.9% plus $0.10 per transaction (i.e. on a $100 contribution the fee would be $2.00). We hope this makes it easier for families to help support the PTN.
If you have any questions, or interest in volunteering this year to support our PTN, please reach out to any of our PTN board members. We welcome everyone to join!
- Co-Presidents: Meghann Cerratani & Diana Gil
- Vice-President: Rachel Bramante
- Secretary: Corey Mathison
- Treasurer: Courtney Martinello
Preschool Community Screening
Reading Public Schools will be offering a preschool developmental screening on Friday, April 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Killam Elementary School. This screening is intended for any 3- or 4-year-old child residing in Reading, who is NOT currently attending the R.I.S.E. Preschool Program.
These screenings are offered free of charge to families who may have concerns for their child in the areas of speech & language, cognition, adaptive, fine motor, or gross motor skills. The screening activities are designed to assess a child’s development in problem-solving and thinking skills through play, language, social interactions, and fine/gross motor skills. Preschool developmental screenings are provided to ensure that all children receive appropriate services and supports prior to entering kindergarten.
If you are interested and your child did not previously attend the screening in December, please sign up by April 24 for a 30-minute time slot via this SignUp Genius LINK. Children must be at least 3 years old to participate in this screening.
If you have questions, please contact R.I.S.E. Preschool Director, Joanne King at 781-942-9179.
ArtsFest 2023
Our district-wide celebration of the arts is just about a month away and there is excitement in the air! ArtsFest, our three-day event is scheduled for Monday, April 10 through Wednesday, April 12. Some of the great visual arts and media on display at RMHS Main Street and the main lobby will include student artwork from:
- Each elementary school
- Both of our middle schools
- RMHS visual arts courses
- RMHS multimedia projections
We will also have some amazing musical performances by our students including:
- Our RISE preschool will be performing on Monday at 5:30 p.m. Students who are performing should plan to arrive by 5:15 in the PAC.
- Each of our elementary schools
- 8th grade combined band (Coolidge and Parker Middle Schools)
- 8th grade combined chorus (Coolidge and Parker Middle Schools)
- RMHS Mixed Choir and Harmonium
- 6th grade combined band
- 6th grade combined chorus
- Reading Middle School Jazz Band (comprised of Coolidge and Parker students)
- RMHS Stage Band
- RMHS Jazz Ensemble
Please see the flyer below with the schedule of events. We invite you to come support our Reading students as we celebrate how the Arts bring us together as a district and as a larger community! A special shout out to thank our talented fine and performing arts teachers for their incredible dedication and commitment to our students! We hope to see each of you for Arts Fest!
North Suburban Child & Family Resource Network
District Planning...Are you interested?
RISE Extended Day Applications for 2023-24
Below are the RISE registration forms for the 2023-24 school year. Please complete this information and submit it to the Extended Day Program as soon as possible to be considered for a spot. These fill up quickly, so don't delay! If you have any questions, please contact Mackenzie Irwin, Assistant Director of Community Education.
Crossing Guards Needed! Please consider applying
In collaboration with the Reading Police Department, we are seeking community members who may be interested in serving as a Crossing Guard. These positions are essential in ensuring the safety of our students and families. Here is a link to the job posting with information on expressing interest. Thanks in advance for helping to spread the word in our community. We are in immediate need of substitute crossing guards, so if you may be willing to support in this role from time to time, please let us know!
Kindergarten Registration for 2023-24
We know the registration process can generate a lot of questions. Here are some of the FAQs we have heard from families.
Roads, tracks, and parking lots! Get ready for some indoor and outdoor fun this month as we work on fine motor skills, two-handed skills, spatial organization, sensory motor skills and encourage your child's creativity! There are some great plastic egg activities included this month too! Feel free to reach out if you need these activities tweaked to meet your family’s needs.
I am also looking for some feedback on these activities and the monthly information provided. A link to the anonymous survey is in my Bitmoji room. Thank you!
Have a great month!
Linda Boyages, OT #1537
Occupational Therapist
RISE Preschool
Reading Public School Medical Policies
Your child’s health is very important to us. A healthy child is a child who is ready to learn.
1. Documentation of all immunizations and a physical exam must be provided prior to the first day of school as mandated by Massachusetts State Law. All medical requirements are included in new student paperwork. If your child has a summer birthday, please make sure their scheduled physical happens before the first day of school and send the documentation to school for your child’s record. Medical or religious immunization exemptions are permitted; documentation of such exemptions is required annually.
2. First Aid: Most injuries are minor; however, please make sure to complete all emergency contact information for your child. Include contact numbers for parents and any other person who might be responsible for picking up your child in the event of an emergency. Also include your child’s physician’s name and contact information. Remember to update this information throughout the school year for any corrections or changes.
3. Medication Guidelines:
- Doctor’s orders and parent authorization forms must be completed for ALL medications given in school (including over-the-counter medications).
- Tylenol and ibuprofen can be given in middle and high school with parental consent.
- All medication orders expire at the end of the school year.
- Medications must be provided in their original labeled container.
- A parent or responsible adult must transport medication to and from the Health Office and meet with the nurse regarding instructions. Do not send any medication in your child’s backpack.
- Exception to medication guidelines: Short term antibiotics may be given without a doctor’s order. The antibiotic must be provided in the original labeled container. This serves as proof of a doctor’s order in this case only.
4. Attendance at School: Please do not send your child to school if they have any of the following:
- Fever of 100 degrees or higher. A child with a fever should not return until they have been fever-free without a fever reducer such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen for 24 hours.
- Infectious illness such as strep throat for which they have been treated with antibiotics for less than 12 hours.
- Any symptoms listed on the COVID health screening. Please check your child for symptoms daily. If you have any concerns, please contact your school nurse, and follow up with your child's physician.
5. School Screenings: State mandated school screenings are as follows: Vision screenings are done in grades prek-5,7 &10, hearing screenings are done in grades K-3, 7 & 10. Height and weight screenings are performed annually on grades 1,4, 7 &10. Postural screenings are done for grade 5-9 annually. SBIRT screenings are done in grades 8 &10.
Parents will be notified of upcoming screenings and notified if a referral is indicated after the screenings. Parents may opt out of any screenings in writing to the school nurse.
6. Communication from the Health Office is through SNAP Health Portal, which connects directly with your child’s electronic health record, and provides direct messaging to your school nurse. School nurses may also reach out via phone call, email, and school newsletters. Please make sure your contact information is up to date.
7. Contagious Illnesses: Please notify the Health Office if your child has any contagious illness or conditions such as COVID, flu or strep throat. Always refer to your pediatrician for guidance.
8. Student Absence: If your child is absent, please call the absentee phone line and mention the reason for the absence. A note is required for all absences when your child returns.
9. Allergy Guidelines: Reading Public School Guidelines for Food Allergies are available on the district webpage under District Information. All classrooms are food-free except for individual snacks and lunches provided from home. All food brought into the classroom must follow the Food Allergy Guidelines. You will be notified of food allergy restrictions for your child’s classroom prior to the beginning of the school year. No food sharing is allowed.
10. Allergies and Chronic Conditions: Please contact the school nurse if your child has any health issues or life-threatening allergies so appropriate accommodations can be made.
Please send in a copy of your child’s yearly physical so that health records and immunizations can be updated. Summer is a good time to reinforce good hygiene habits such as handwashing, cough and sneeze etiquette and the importance of no food sharing at school. Another health issue to consider is lice prevention. Please get into the habit of watching for symptoms and routinely checking your child’s head.
Please contact your school nurse with any questions or concerns. We look forward to working with you and getting to know your child.
Sincerely,
Reading Public School Nurses
Reading Coalition...Community Support
The Reading Coalition for Prevention & Support, formerly known as RCASA, was established in 2006 in Reading. The coalition started as a town, police, school and community initiative focused on improving collaboration and reducing substance abuse. The coalition was grant-funded from 2007-2019. Today, the coalition funded under the Reading Police Department, offers programs and services that focus on substance misuse prevention and mental health promotion.
Upcoming Events:
- April 6th at 6pm- the Coalition and Public Health Nurse will be hosting a Narcan administration training at the Reading Public Library
- April 12th at 6:30pm- Parents Night Out event for parents/caregivers of RMHS students to discuss underage drinking and substance use
- April 20th at 7pm- Women and alcohol event with a spotlight on the book Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol by Ann Dowsett Johnston
- April 27th at 7pm- Reading Public Safety Clinician will be discussing Postpartum Depression and Perinatal Mental Health at the Reading Public Library
Follow us on Instagram @rcps_rpd
Like us on Facebook @reading coalition
Follow us on Twitter @rcoalition4prev
Latest News from SEPAC
⭐ Spring with SEPAC Events are open to ALL!
Do you ever think about your family’s emotional health? Anxiety in our nation? Inclusivity? We have events for you, including a movie night AND a visit from Lynn Lyons of Flusterclux podcast fame! See flyer for all of our events and mark your calendars.
⭐ Do you have a child who is on an IEP, a 504 plan, and/or has a disability? If so, the Reading SEPAC exists for YOU.
Fill out this BRIEF, ANONYMOUS survey for the board; we want to make sure we reach ALL families, and it will help us plan for 2023-2024. It should take only a few minutes.
The Board seeks input from families or groups who feel disconnected from SEPAC despite having a child with an IEP, a 504 plan, and/or special needs. We especially want to hear from parents/guardians of students in the following categories: Out of District placements, Boston residents, multilingual learners, and anyone else who desires more connection and/or could benefit more from SEPAC.
⭐ Overcoming Hurdles to Disability Inclusion event on March 30th
See flyer; register here.
⭐ SEPAC Business Meeting: Fulfilling our Mission to ALL Families
The SEPAC Board will hold a virtual, open, public business meeting and discussion on Tuesday, April 4th from 1-2PM via this link. Use our survey or email to submit ideas ahead of time.
See flyer for details!
We encourage you to join SEPAC's mailing list, follow SEPAC on Facebook, and follow SEPAC on Instagram
About These Services
The Town of Reading contracts with William James College to offer a special service for our residents. The William James INTERFACE Referral Service maintains a mental health and wellness referral help line Monday through Friday, 9 am-5 pm, at 888-244-6843 (toll free). This is a free, confidential referral service for individuals across the lifespan living in Reading. Callers are matched with licensed mental health providers from our extensive database. Each referral meets the location, insurance, and specialty needs of the caller. Click here to learn more!
Important Dates Coming Up:
April
10: Arts Fest begins, 5:30 p.m. at RMHS
17: Patriot's Day; Beginning of April Vacation
17-21: Spring Recess, No school
28: Preschool Screening for Reading Residents, 11-2 at Killam Elementary (pre-registration is required)
Overview of RISE Programs
Reading Public Schools offers a variety of outstanding integrated preschool programming for Reading residents. Our integrated programs serve tuition-based students and students who receive special education services. Our goal is to create an environment of mutual respect, where all students learn from their teachers and from each other.
Our integrated preschool programs are multi-age, and students may enter when they turn three years old. This enables our younger students to learn from their older classmates. Our four-year-old students love being role models and leaders to our three-year-old students.
Our integrated programs are designed to support the learning and growth of both tuition students and students with disabilities. Our approach is play-based. Students learn school, social and academic skills through center activities, free play, circle time, recess, and more.
If you have questions about our programs, you are welcome to contact Dr. King.
Contact Information
Email: joanne.king@reading.k12.ma.us
Website: https://rise.reading.k12.ma.us/
Location: 62 Oakland Road, Reading, MA, USA
Phone: 781-942-9179